Program Options and Services

The Pittsburgh Public Schools Early Childhood Education Department provides children, birth to five, with a comprehensive, flexible program designed to reinforce and respond to the unique strengths and needs of each individual child and family. Programming for birth to 5 services is funded through State, federal and local funding sources. Funds are cost allocated to economize wherever possible without negatively impacting the quality of services and ensuring the financial sustainability of the program. Funding from multiple sources allows us to operate 95 classrooms in 34 locations scattered throughout the city, as well as collaborate with 16 local childcare agencies to provide comprehensive services for children and families.

Education Services

The curriculum is based on the premise that all children share certain needs, and that their needs are best met through a child-centered developmental program. All programs operate five days a week for six hours a day. The goal is to provide an environment and experiences that bring about a greater degree of school readiness skills and social competence in preschool children. To achieve this goal, we provide a child-centered curriculum that promotes self-confidence, physical abilities, increased academic awareness and social interaction.

Health/Mental Health/Disability Services

Emphasis is placed on early identification of health problems by providing comprehensive health, mental health and disability services. Medical and dental forms and immunization records should be completed prior to entering the program. Follow-up treatment is provided to children that have been identified with health or dental concerns.

The Early Childhood Education Department also recognizes the importance of providing psychological services when needed to promote emotional and social development in children. Mental health professionals are available to provide training to staff and parents to help them identify if a child has special needs so that the appropriate support services can be implemented.

A network of support services is available for children with disabilities. These services allow for early identification and remediation involving diagnosis, consultation, referral, therapy and follow-up treatment.

Services are provided to children with visual and/or hearing impairments, physical impairments and social and emotional learning disabilities. At least 10% of the total number of enrollment slots are made available to children with disabilities.

Nutrition Services

Children receive a minimum of one breakfast and one lunch each day, which meets one-third to two-thirds of their daily nutritional requirements. The Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) Food Service Department works closely with program staff to design meal plans that meet the proper nutritional needs for students. Children that have been identified with special dietary needs receive specialized meal plans.

Social Services

The Social Service staff provides outreach services to children and families and help to encourage parent participation in the program. They also assist families in securing basic needs through a network of support services such as referrals, emergency assistance and crisis prevention/intervention. The Early Childhood Education Department ensures confidentiality to all its families.

To learn more, please contact James Saunders, Family Services Coordinator at (412) 529-8018.

Childcare Partnerships

The Early Childhood Education Department has established formal partnership agreements with a number of childcare agencies throughout the City that are able to provide extended-day and summer learning opportunities. The features of both programs mirror the school-based classroom model that operates on a school year (10 months) schedule, including:

Support from program coordinators, education coaches and family service specialists;

The Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP) is a State-funded early childhood program that provides services to three hundred two (302) children between the ages of 3 and 5. This is achieved through a combination of preschool slots in various Pittsburgh Public School classrooms, as well as partnerships with 10 community child care agencies to provide comprehensive support services eligible children. All childcare agencies are enrolled in the Keystone STARS Program, which is a state-wide, quality childcare enhancement program. Some sites are also accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Head
Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP)

Childcare
Partners

For more
information, please contact

Jennifer
Fustich, Partnerships Coordinator

at (412) 529-4590

Arsenal
Family & Children's Center

336
South Aiken Avenue

Pittsburgh,
PA15232

Matilda Theiss
Child Dev Center/Western Psych

373 Burrows
Street

Pittsburgh, PA
15213

Brightside
Academy East Liberty

5919
Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh,
PA15206

Oakland Sunshine
Daycare & Learning Center, Inc.

2358 Fifth Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA
15213

Brightside
Academy Squirrel Hill

823-830
Hazelwood Avenue

Pittsburgh,
PA15207

Providence
Family Support Center

3113 Brighton
Road

Pittsburgh,
PA15212

Child's
Way/The Children's Home of Pittsburgh

5324
Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh,
PA 15224

Small World 1

607 Penn Avenue,
2nd floor

Pittsburgh,
PA15222

Eastminster
Child Care Center

250
N. Highland Avenue

Pittsburgh,
PA 15206

Small World 2

960 Penn Avenue,
2nd floor

Pittsburgh,
PA15222

Hug
Me Tight Child Life Center

1815
Centre Avenue

Pittsburgh,
PA 15219

YMCA/Duquesne
University Child Development Center

1315 Bluff
Street

Pittsburgh,
PA15282

The Pennsylvania Pre-Kindergarten Counts (PKC) Program is a state-funded early childhood program that provides services to three hundred ninety-four (394) children who are enrolled in various Pittsburgh Public School classrooms as well as and 6 community early child care centers and licensed nursery schools. All childcare partner sites are either enrolled in the Keystone STARS program or licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts (PKC)
Childcare Partners

For more information, please
contact

Amber Straub, Partnerships
Coordinator

at (412) 529-8703

Brightside Academy East Liberty

5919
Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Small World 1

607 Penn Avenue, 2nd floor

Pittsburgh, PA15222

Elizabeth
Seton Center

1900
Pioneer Avenue

Pittsburgh,
PA15226

Small World 2

960 Penn Avenue, 2nd floor

Pittsburgh, PA15222

Hillel
Academy of Pittsburgh

5685
Beacon Street

Pittsburgh,
PA 15217

YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh

Homewood -Brushton Center

6907 Frankstown Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15208

Hilltop
Community Children's Center

201
Orchard Place

Pittsburgh,
PA15210

Early Head Start (EHS) Program

Early Head Start (EHS) is a federally funded program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women. The program's goals are:

to enhance the development of very young children;

to promote healthy pre-natal outcomes for pregnant women; and

to promote healthy family functioning.

Early Head Start services are offered through center-based and home-based program options. The center-based options are located in two high schools (Westinghouse and Brashear) and one early childhood center (Crescent) which provides comprehensive education and social services to infants and toddlers of students currently enrolled at one of the high schools. In the home-based option, Home Visitors provide services in children's homes through weekly, 90-minute visits. Children enrolled in the Early Head Start program have the opportunity to transition to the preschool program when they turn 3 years old.

Parent Engagement

Parents are the most important influence on a child's development. An essential component of early childhood education is the involvement of parents in the planning and development process. Parents have the opportunity to serve as members of the Head Start Policy Council and its various sub-committees. The purpose of Policy Council is to facilitate the objectives of the program so that all children receive the maximum benefits of a comprehensive child development program. Serving as a Policy Council member also enables parents to have meaningful input into the administrative decision making process. All parents are welcome to participate.

Parents can volunteer as teacher aides, field trip chaperones and assist with various activities that promote parent engagement. All volunteers must have current Act 33 (Child Abuse History) and Act 34 (Criminal Record Check) clearances and a recent TB test. Parents have the ability to participate in events that promote their own personal growth and development and increase their knowledge and awareness about early learning standards through activities sponsored by the School District, and federal and State education authorities such as the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), the National Head Start Association (NHSA) and the Pittsburgh Association for the Education of Young Childen (PAEYC). Through participation in classes, local meetings, workshops and home visits, parents learn about the educational, social, and emotional needs of their child and can collaborate with staff to learn best practices and be a strong, stable support systems for children.

To learn more about parent engagement opportunities, please contact Darlene McIntosh, Special Projects Coordinator at (412) 325-4297 or James Saunders, Family Services Coordinator at (412) 529-8018, or click on the link: to download a volunteer information packet

Family Options Programs

In 2012, program offerings were extended to include a tuition-based option to serve preschool children whose family household income exceed 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Families interested in this option should contact the main office at (412) 325-4291 to find out more information or inquire about slot openings.

To meet the needs of families that seek extended care options for their children, afterschool program services are offered at select locations for children in grades Pre-K through 5th Grade. Space is still available in some locations. For more information, please contact Darlene McIntosh, Special Projects Coordinator at (412) 325-4297 or visit http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/Page/3333 to learn more about the program or download the application.